His Human Vessel (Zandian Masters 5)

“Yes, Master.” So vecking agreeable. He didn’t know what to do with a being who pretended to like him. It had never happened before.

He took her to the kitchen, slapping her ass every time she slowed to ogle a piece of art or finery. He told himself this was part of her discipline. It certainly wasn’t because he couldn’t keep his hands off her firm, rounded ass.

He introduced her to the palatial pod’s chef. “Master Barr, this is our newest human acquisition, Bayla. If all goes well, she will also be pregnant within the week and will have the same dietary needs as Lamira.” He released the magnet clip on her cuffs to free her hands.

Bayla lifted her gaze to him. “Who’s—”

He arched a brow, and her mouth clamped shut. Good girl.

Barr bowed. “It will be my pleasure to feed another human female.” He indicated a seat at his counter and heaped a serving of grain cakes on a plate. “Lady Lamira grows heirloom fruits and vegetables originally found on Earth. Doctor Daneth believes those foods are best suited for the human body.” He brought a smaller plate with a pile of tiny red fruit to her. “These are called strawberries.”

Bayla’s full lips stretched into a wide smile which did something strange to Daneth’s insides. They squeezed and turned in the most uncomfortable way, and something akin to anger flushed through him.

Anger? At what?

His hands clenched into fists at his sides. He wanted to shove the little red berries up Chef Barr’s nose… oh. Could this be jealousy? Surely not. Why would he envy old Barr feeding the slave.

His slave.

Yes. His. Slave.

Was this some primordial instinct to provide for a female rearing its head? Or the need to demolish all competition for said female?

Bayla finished chewing the strawberry she’d popped into her mouth and moaned. “Master Barr, I’ve never had a strawberry before, but it’s the best thing I’ve ever tasted in my life.”

Barr’s skin darkened in a blush, and he bowed.

Yes, Daneth wanted to shove Barr’s head in the oven. He didn’t like Bayla talking to the chef. Didn’t like her smiling. He definitely didn’t like her moaning like that.

He checked his cuff. Twenty percent aroused.

Good. If he’d found her arousal had increased over eating strawberries, Barr would’ve lost several teeth. Considering she’d been 30 percent aroused when he’d touched her backside, the 20 percent probably related to her sitting on a bare, freshly spanked ass with a plug in it.

He tapped his fingers on the counter, grateful that she ate so quickly this time. She cleaned both plates in mere minutes.

“Would you care for more, Bayla?”

“She’s finished,” he snapped. Not that he’d ever deny his slave food, but if she wanted more, she could eat it in her cage. “She will take her meals in my chamber,” he said, “unless I escort her out.”

Barr bowed again.

He picked up Bayla’s leash and wrapped it around one hand, tugging her off her chair. “Hands behind your back.”

Her immediate obedience gave him a small thrill. “Attach cuffs,” his voice commanded, and her wrists locked together.

Veck. The bound position only pushed out her breasts out farther. Her nipples poked out of the thin fabric of her garment, as if begging for his touch. Add to that her downcast eyes and submissively bowed head, and his cock was suddenly too large for his pants.

Gritting his teeth, he jerked the leash. He had to stay focused. She was a vessel for his project. Nothing more.

“Come.” He led her back down the corridor.

Two guards approached and stopped at the sight of Bayla. One of them cleared his throat. “Doctor Daneth.”

The same impatience he’d experienced in the kitchen intensified. He wanted to drag Bayla away from these males and lock her up in his room, perhaps never let her out. It would be for her own protection. An unbred female might prove too much of a temptation around the pod. He recalled what happened when Prince Zander’s mate, Lamira, had been left alone with a guard. The guard had attempted to force himself on the female.

“Warriors, this is Bayla. She’s part of an important protocol to repopulate our species.”

Both males took on a look of hunger, their gazes traveling up and down her small body.